Gymnastics Coaching.com

From GymFanMW on College Gymnastics Board:

Looking back over the past 4 seasons, it is interesting to note the programs that have seen the greatest improvement in terms of final team ranking, and the programs that have seen the greatest decline. From 2006-2009 (using the pre-NCAA championship team rankings), these are the top 5 programs in terms of improvement:

commentary – Teams on the rise/decline

That Nebraska stat hurts.

It’s a fantastic program, with great coaches, that has had some very bad luck over the past 2 years.

She’s addicted.

Search for NLiukin on Twitter.

This past weekend saw the return of the Wild Rose International. The senior women’s all-around was won by the host gym’s Kristin Klarenbach, who also captured three medals in the apparatus finals (silver on vault, bronze on beam, and gold on floor). Other apparatus winners included Charlotte Mackie (vault), Sydney Sawa (bars), and Miranda Meyer (beam). …

Gymn.ca

As expected, the revived Wild Rose Gymnastics competition was, once again, excellent.

original

Meet Director Michel Arsenault filled us in on his plans to expand the meet over the next 2 years.

It’s run as a non-profit Society, not a money making business. Michel wants to raise the quality of gymnastics in Canada by bringing more top gymnasts here to compete. And increasing the prize money into the future.

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At the coaches social Friday night, I dropped off a TumblTrak Air Floor at Champions Gymnastics. They will be testing it for a couple of weeks.

larger original

details – TumblTrak – Air Floor

Here’s a great idea.

Click PLAY or watch Semenova on Beijing Event Finals Bars on YouTube.

Unfortunately there are errors on this example. But this concept would go a long way to helping the general public understand our insanely complicated scoring system.

You should be able to turn the text on and off. And — obviously — the text should not obscure the gymnastics.

(via Senor Nico on the IG forum)

Suzie Tuffy-Riewald, Ph.D. posted an article for the U.S. Olympic program:

… All coaches and athletes understand the importance of training the mental aspect of performance. The mind can have a positive (or negative) influence on how athletes perform. However while many coaches recognize the importance of a strong mental game, they may not be comfortable with teaching mental skills. One remedy for this situation may be to have a sport psychologist develop and implement a psychological skills training program. Unfortunately, few programs/coaches have access to sport psychologists; therefore, coaches must take responsibility for physically, technically and psychologically preparing their athletes.

You don’t have to be a psychologist to set up a psychological skills training program. First, it is not necessary (or realistic) for the program to be comprehensive.

Second, with just a little planning, you can combine basic mental training principles and techniques into daily practice sessions. When the coach stresses the importance of mental training, it may be more effective than when mental training is a separate component of practice, delivered by an outside consultant. …

… read the rest of this article on the US Olympic Coaching Newsletter – MAKE MENTAL TRAINING PART OF PHYSICAL TRAINING

original – flickr – www.jugendsport-foto.de

Gymnasts are thinking of “something” while they train. While they compete.

Good coaching is helping athletes find the right things to think about. At the right time.

Every gymnast is different. Coaching mental training is more of an art, than a science.

Coach – David Brubaker

See more articles like this one linked from the Fall 2008 edition of the USOC Olympic Coach E-Magazine.

What 6 teams will qualify for the 2009 women’s NCAA Team Finals?

http://www.gymnastike.org/assets/portal/add_ons/mediaplayer-4.2/player.swf

To win a Gymnastike t-shirt, click through and list the 6 teams in rank order, with their team scores in the comments on the Gymnastike video above. (Top 3 teams from Session 1. Top 3 teams from Session 2.)

I predicted:

Georgia 198
Utah 197.5
Alabama 197.3
UCLA 196.9
LSU 196.7
Stanford 196.0

It’s a wild guess, really.

Stanford is better this season than last, when they finished 3rd. But that was an amazing Team Final for them. It will be tough to duplicate.

UCLA is young and still inconsistent. But they could finish even higher.

Blythe on Gymblog likes Utah.

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What I really like about the contest video is getting a chance to see wonder woman Anne Phillips featured. She’s normally behind the camera.

A former Level 9 gymnast from Texas, Anne founded the best new gymnastics site since the now defunct Gymnast.com.

… Aside from the Olympics, gymnastics doesn’t get too much media coverage which is a shame because I really believe it’s the coolest sport in the world. You and I both know there’s more to gymnastics than girls flipping around in pretty leotards on TV every 4 years. So, I want to show gymnastics behind the scenes – how tough our athletes are, how hard they work, and what they’re like off the competition floor.

I’ll have workout videos so you can see how the best gymnasts train, and video interviews with top athletes and coaches, so you can hear their stories and get to know them on a more personal level. We’ll also have blogs, gymnastics news, and personalized training tools.

I’m currently traveling the country collecting thoughts and ideas from the best minds in the sport. Your feedback, both good and bad, is extremely welcome as this site is as much yours as it is mine. I want to make this the best site for you, the gymnastics community.

Anne Phillips – bio – Gymnastike

How does Anne manage to travel all over the States blogging the biggest gym events?

And how do I get a job like that?

Another thrilling National Collegiate Championships is set.

2009 Qualifying Teams:

Stanford
Oklahoma
Illinois
Michigan
California
Ohio State
Minnesota
Penn State
Nebraska
Illinois-Chicago
Iowa
Navy

Wednesday, April 15 – Open Practice Day – Specific times TBD

Thursday, April 16 – National Qualifier – Session 1 (6 teams) begins at 1:00 p.m. & Session 2 (6 teams) begins at 7:00 p.m.

Friday, April 17 – Team Finals & All-Around Finals – 1 session (with the 6 remaining teams) beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 18 – Individual Event Finals – 1 session beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Gopher Sports

Do you like SlamBall?

Check out Bossaball.

… a sport invented in Belgium. It is similar to volleyball, but also includes elements of football (soccer), gymnastics and capoeira. Each side of the court has an integrated trampoline, allowing players to bounce high enough to spike the ball, and a number of inflatable barriers. …

Wikipedia

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Here’s where it’s played:

BossaballSports.com

CRAZY extreme sport.

SlamBall – coming to TV, SPRING ’09

Click PLAY or watch the 9min preview on YouTube.

Has anyone seen SlamBall on TV this year?

If so, leave a comment.

Someone is promoting this product on message boards.

Though it might be SPAM, they look interesting.

UPDATE: Svetlana KISSELEVA wrote to assure us the company and product is for real. See her entire email in the comments of this post.

Heels protection is necessary for workout on the beam.

Provides soothing compression to the heel. Easy to put. Do not slide.

Inside gel pads help limit the every day pain of heel and perform the shock absorption. Outside nonskid rubber perform the stability.

Heels Protection

Good idea.

The company is called Skiss Leotards . It purports to be a Russian – French firm making leos in France.

Leave a comment if you can confirm this company is REAL.

==== UPDATE: Quebecker recommends a similar product, Tuli’s Cheetah Heel Protector.